Battle over food trucks in NOLA heads to City Hall

UPDATED 12:00 AM CDT Oct 10, 2012

NEW ORLEANS -

Food truck operators went before the New Orleans City Council on Tuesday to plead for more lenient laws regarding their businesses.

"Our two main goals were to educate the public about the benefits of the food trucks for our community, and also to work with you all on making some changes. It would certainly help our day-to-day operations," Rachel Billow with the Food Truck Coalition said.

"Lifting that permit cap to allow more culinary entrepreneurs to start their own trade, that would help move new small businesses," Billow said.

New Orleans City councilwoman Stacy Head said the permits for food truck vendors might be increased.

"You look at the cities that function, that are fairly high-functioning in kind of every way. Look at Austin. Look at Portland. Those are cities that have embraced the concept of mobile-food vendors, and certainly New Orleans, because we are known for our food and should do the same," New Orleans City councilwoman Stacy Head said.

Billow said the food trucks will continue to be a staple of the local restaurant industry.

"It's here to stay, and it's just a great segment of the restaurant industry. We are restaurants on wheels," Billow said.

The Central City Food Truck Festival is scheduled from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the 2000 block of Oretha Castle Haley in Central City.

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